Improvement in whiffletrees and neck-yokes



G. W. EDDY.

WHIFFLETREE AND NECK-Yom.

N.176,5zz. Patented Apm z5, 187s.

NJTER. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C4 rNTTED STATES GEORGE W.EDDY', OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

vlMPR-CJVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREES AND NECK-YOKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

176,522, dated April 25, 1876; application filed February 26, 1876.

To all whom t may concern Y Be it known that I, GEO. W. EDDY, ofWaterford, in the county of Saratoga'and State of New York, haveinvented certain Improvelnents in VVhifdetrees and Neck Yokes, of whichthe following is `a specification:

My present invention consists in certainimprovements in the constructionof whiffletrees and neck-yokes, the invention relating tothe details ofconstruction, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

`Figures l and 2 are plan views of a Whiletree embodying lny invention,shown partly in section. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent portionsshown more in detail.

The object of my present invention is to make Whiftletrees andneck-yokes that shall be very light and strong, and Which, at the sametime, may be made highly ornamental, as well as durable.

In making a whifetree on my plan, I provide a metal tubesuch as theordinary gas or Water pipe-of, say, three-fourths of an inch internaldiameter, and of the requisite length to form the main bar A; I thenprovide a corresponding metal rod of, say, three-eighths to halt' aninch in diameter, to form a bracerod, B, these parts being united,preferably, as represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,-in which the end of thebrace is shown solidly united to the ends of the bar A. This is done bybeating the end of the bar or. tube A, then placing it in a die, andbymeans of a suitably-shaped punch or die, compressing the end of thetube, and at the same time forming a groove in its back side of theproperV size and form to permit the end of the brace B to fit therein,as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and et. The parts, being thus fitted, are thenwelded or riveted together at each end, and their extreme ends maderound, and a screw-thread, b, cut thereon, as shown. On each end is thenfitted a screwcap, D, which has a ring or eye formed on its outer end,to fasten the trace to. When it is desired to make a double-tree towhich the single'trees are to be attached by securin g the latter uponthe top of the doubletree, as is usually done for carriages, I make thecap D with'a dat circular surface or bearing, f, on its upper side, asrepresented at the left-hand end of Fig. 2, the single-tree resting onthis dat bearing f, and being pivoted by a bolt passing through the holen. In order to prevent cuttingV away the metal and weakening the end ofthe whifetree, as would be the lcase if the bolt passed directly throughthe 1Whiitletree, I form the hole n in the cap D in such a position thatthe bolt Z, when inserted, Will rest in a corresponding notch in the endof the whiietree, as shown in Fig. 3, it also serving to prevent the capD from turning or becoming unscrewed. When these whiftletrees are usedas sin gie-trees, the tng or trace-chain will be hooked or fastened intothe eye on the end of the cap, and when they become Worn on one side byuse they can be given a halfturn either forward or back, according asthey it tight or loose, and thus bring the other side of the eye intouse. If desired, a screw or pin may be used, the same as the boltalready described, to prevent the cap from turning; but it is notconsidered necessary, for the reason that, as the strain will be on thefront side of the eye, there will be no tendency, or but little, of thecaps to turn or work loose. To complete the whifdetree, I make a bridge,Otto unite the front bar or tube A and the brace B at their center, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. This bridge may be made solid; but I prefer tomake it of two parts, of the form shown in perspective in Fig. 7.

It Will be seen that two such pieces put face to face will inclose theparts A and B, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and, when secured together bybolts or rivets, will form a solid support or brace between the parts Aand B, thus making of the whifletree, as a whole, a truss of the bestform for resisting the strain brought to bear upon it. The bridge C alsoseves as a means of attachment.

In a double-tree which is to be bolted on a tongue or pole, the bridge Gwill be formed with a flat circular boss, I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6for a bearing, With a `bolt-hole, e, at its center; and single-treeswhich are to be bolted on the top of double-trees will be made in thesame manner, this being the style generally used on carriages andsimilar light draft.

In making them for farm use or other heavy Work,they would, preferably,be made with the bridge C formed with a rear projection, t,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, thus forming asort ot' clevis, by which thedouble-tree may be readily secured to a plow or similar implenient, andby which, also, the single-trees may be readily attached by a bolt tothe eye at the end ofthe caps I) ot' the doubletree. The

' boss I may also be made on the bridge C in this case, the same asalready described, to adapt the whifliel'ree for use on farm-wagons,street-cars. and the like.

In Fig. 1 I have represented a modification, which is more especiallyadapted for ligh t draft. In this case the tube A may be made of lightermaterial-such as drawn brass tubingand then strengthened by a woodfilling, L, on the plan described in my former patent, or in anysuitable manner. Instead ot' welding the brace to the front bar A, thelatter is cut away or indented on its back side, at each end, far enoughto permit the ends of the brave to rest therein, as shown at theright-hand end ot' Fig. l, the ends ot' the brace-rod heilig extendedbeyond the end of' the front bar, as shown, so that the cap D can bescrewed thereon, as shown, the cap being made to tit over and inclosethe end ot' the tube or bar A, and, when screwed up tight, bear againstthe end of' the latter.

This modified style ot' the article may also be made without the woodfilling, and with iron or other tubing, as may be preferred.

It is obvious that this construction, whether kof the style shown inFig. 1 or that shown in Fig. 2, is equally applicable to neck-yolies, itonly being necessary to change the construction of the bridge U byproviding it with a hole, or with a pendent piece ot' proper size to litthe end ot' the pole or tongue. In case the hole for the tongue be madein the bridge it should be lined with leather or similar material, toprevent wearing or dcfacing thc pole; or, it' made with u pendant toreceive the end ot' the tongue, it should beot' leather, asiscustomary,it being easily attached by securing it between the plates which formthe bridge c by slightly modifying the latter t'or that purpose, whichcan readily be done by any artisan skilled in the art.

These whifiletrees are especially adapted f'or use on street-cars, aswell as for all the ordinary purposes ot' the farm and heavy teamwork;and when intended for such use they will be made of ordinarywrought-iron, the caps and bridges being preferably Iliade of malleablecast-iron.

When intended for use on carriages they need not be so strong, and bymaking them,

as well as the neck-yokes, of lighter iron tube, suitably smoothed andpolished, or of brass tubing and rods. they may be plated or gilded, andthus be rendered very ornamental in appearance, as well as exceedinglydurable.

The manner of attaching the caps and the bridge also enables them to bereplaced when ever broken or worn with but trilling expense Y or delay,as it is intended to manufacture these articles of regular sizes, withtheir parts interchangeable, the same as is now done with tire-arms andsimilar articles made by machinery.

It should be observed that when the ends of the brace are welded fast,as in Fig. 2, the bridge should be so made as to lit snugly in place,and press the brace outward, so as to draw it tight, thus holding theparts snug and tirm.

When made as shown in Fig. l the brace may be drawn taut by screwing upthe caps D. Ordinarily the front bar A will be made straightg. but forvery heavy work it may be better to curve it slightly, so that itscenter shall project slightly forward, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A whifiletree orneck-yoke composed of the tubular bur A and the brace-rod B, securedthereto at its ends, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the bar A and brace B, permanently united attheir ends, the screweap D, constructed and applied as set forth.

3. The bridge C, composed of the two plates, provided with the grooves aand c, in combination with the bar A and brace B, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination ot' the tube A, having grooves for the. brace B to tin, with the brace B, having its ends extended beyond the ends of thetube, and the cap D, made to screw on said extended ends of the brace.,and tit over and inelose the ends of the tube or bar A, substantially asshown and described.

5. The screw cap I), provided with the ring or eye, and made reversible,as set forth.

6. In combination with the bar A and cap I), the bolt or pin l, arrangedto lit in a notch or recess in the end of the bar, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

GEO. W. EDDY. Witnesses:

J. E. KELLY, GEO. II. COLE.

